How it works
Whois queries the public records of a domain or IP address and returns the data its registry declares: registrar, creation, update, and expiration dates, status, nameservers, and, when available, the administrative and technical contacts.
The query is made on the server against the whois corresponding to each extension or IP range. Keep in mind that much contact data may appear hidden by privacy services or by data protection regulations.
Use cases
- See when a domain expires and when to renew it or try to register it.
- Find out which registrar manages a domain before a transfer.
- Identify the provider or organization responsible for an IP address.
- Investigate the age and registration history of a suspicious domain.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't the owner's details appear?
Since regulations like the GDPR came into force and due to registrar privacy services, much of the contact information is usually redacted or hidden. The technical data (dates, nameservers, status) remains public.
What is the difference between a domain's whois and an IP's?
A domain's is maintained by the registrar and shows ownership and expirations. An IP's is maintained by the regional registries (RIR) and shows to which organization or provider the range is assigned.
What do the domain statuses mean?
They are EPP codes that indicate locks and protections: for example, clientTransferProhibited prevents transferring it and pendingDelete announces that it is going to be released. They reflect which operations are allowed at that moment.
Does whois say whether a domain is available?
Indirectly: if the query returns no record, the domain is likely available. To confirm it, it is best to verify with the registrar before trying to register it.